Want to get ahead in fashion? Get a trade

Robert Knighton from East London was 'discovered' while fitting carpets at the house of a Next Models talent scout

19-year-old Daniel Whittaker, a plasterer from Liverpool, has just been 'cast' as the new face of Dolce & Gabbana and Versace. Photo: Adam Bennett

X factor winner Matt Cardle was a bricklayer and a painter and decorator before finding fame Photo: PA

As any sensible career's officer will tell you, it's good to have a trade. While you're waiting for superstardom to beckon, you need to have a plan B. It's no good just sitting around in your pants watching Cash In The Attic - how will anyone ever discover you?

First up we have 50-year-old Robert Knighton from East London. One minute he was fitting a carpet - as he has done most days over the past 30 years - next thing, he's walking the catwalk for Ozwald Boateng, starring in a
men's fashion
shoot for Arena Homme and being signed as the new face of a major UK brand's television campaign. Little did he know that the house in which he was fitting the carpet belonged to a Next Models talent scout, and the agency are now excitedly touting him as the one to watch.

"As soon as we saw Rob we knew our clients would love him and we weren't wrong,' said Next Models spokeswoman Sarah Vickery. "His amazing face, hot body and fascinating life experience make him so attractive to clients".

Then there's Daniel Whittaker, the 19-year-old plasterer from Liverpool who has just been 'cast' as the new face of
Versace
. He's off to Milan to make the most of his new-found fame.

"I can't quite believe this is happening - it has all been such a whirlwind. Milan is one of the fashion capitals of the world so it's an honour to be asked to work there", Whittaker told
Metro
. Daniel was encouraged to pursue modelling by his sister and quickly snapped up by Pulse Model Agency and the rest is about to be fashion history.

And let's not forget handyman Matt Cardle who just won the seventh series of the X Factor. Cardle worked as a bricklayer, postman, milkman and most recently as a painter and decorator, before scooping the £1 million recording contract with Simon Cowell's label Syco Music, and the Christmas number one.

So it seems the Metrosexual male really has had his day. If you can't at least put up shelves or bleed a radiator, forget it. Boys, it might be time to retrain.